BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Taylor Hall (BUF), Shane Gostisbehere (PHI), Thatcher Demko (VAN), Philip Danault (MTL), and more!
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This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
Pierre LeBrun (TSN): Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis is getting calls from team looking to see what it would take from him not to select certain players. The price is pretty high, in some cases it’s a 1st round pick AND a prospect which is scaring off some teams from trading for another player before the trade deadline.
- One name to retain if (the Philadelphia Flyers) do decide to add a goalie is Jonathan Bernier (DET). I believe he’s on the radar for the Flyers. He’s a pending UFA.
Lance Lysowski (Buffalo News): Is reporting that the Buffalo Sabres let go of another scout. The staff now has six people working under Director of Scouting Jeremiah Crowe, Asst. Dir. of Scouting Jason Nightingale, and Head of Collegiate Scouting Jerry Forton.
Darren Dreger (TSN): It sounds like there’s progress being made on pending UFA Tanner Pearson. Vancouver spoke with his agent but it’s not done yet. Lots of work to get it done, but both sides are optimistic.
Chris Johnston (Sportsnet): Some teams with interest in Taylor Hall hope to speak to him as part of a trade to see if he’d do an extension. Casey Middlestadt’s name is definitely out there.
Frank Seravalli (TSN): “Vancouver got to work on their 6-day break, starting with Thatcher Demko, engaging in disussions on what an extension might look like. I don’t think they’re close.”
Sam Carchidi (Philadelphia Inquirer): The Florida Panthers do not have interest in claiming defenseman Shane Gostisbehere from the Flyers off of waivers. There will not be a homecoming for him in South Florida.
Bruce Garrioch (Ottawa Sun): With the Univ. of North Dakota’s loss in the NCAA Championships, the discussions between Ottawa and Shane Pinto, Jacob Bernard-Docker, and Jake Sanderson will heat up in the next 24hrs. Sanderson will be offered an opportunity to leave school, it’s up to him and his family to determine what’s next.
The Fourth Period: The Maple Leafs, Islanders, Panthers, Blues, and Avalanche are all teams that could take a swing at Buffalo Sabres forward Taylor Hall.
Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): It is believed that the Buffalo Sabres were discussing something with the struggling St. Louis Blues
MOCK TRADES (Courtesy of @realpuckzone on IG)
To Buffalo: Pavel Buchnevich, 2021 4th round pick, and a 2022 2nd round pick
To NY: Taylor Hall (25% retained salary)
BLH’s Thoughts: This would be a VERY good haul for Buffalo in my opinion. I don’t think he’s worth this much at all. His mental state and his form are scraping the bottom of the barrel and how much better is he going to be in a new environment?
If I’m Buffalo, wouldn’t it make more sense to target a goalie and/or defense if I was looking for an asset who can play right now?
To Montreal: Taylor Hall
To Buffalo: Mattias Norlinder, 2021 2nd round pick, Philip Danault
BLH’s Thoughts: First, salary cap. I think this person forgot to add that Buffalo should retain salary on Hall’s deal. Second, who’s playing center on Montreal’s first line as well as running the PP and PK? 36yr old Eric Staal?
To Toronto: Dylan Strome, Calvin De Haan, 2021 5th round pick
To Chicago: Alex Kerfoot, Nic Robertson, Pierre Engvall
BLH’s Thoughts: Why in the world would Toronto want to move Robertson and Engvall for a much slower Strome and De Haan? They’ve already got Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza slowing down their 4th line.
To Edmonton: Philip Danault
To Montreal: 2022 1st round pick and Tyler Benson
BLH’s Thoughts: If Montreal took Alex Chiasson and Kyle Turris in the deal too, I’d love to have Danault as Edmonton’s 3C. Would he want to be a third line center though? Maybe playing on a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would be enough of an incentive.
To Florida: Taylor Hall
To Buffalo: Brett Connolly, Henrik Borgstrom, 2021 1st round pick
BLH’s Thoughts: Again, a really decent haul for… Hall. Connolly and Borgstrom fell out of favor in Florida and need a change of scenery. As I said before though, Buffalo needs to upgrade its defense and goaltending not add more ineffective forwards. What’s going on with Chase Priskie? I thought he was supposed to be this really good NCAA defenseman coming up. He’s 25 already and not a whole lot is going on there…
To Nashville: Pierre Engvall, 2021 2nd round pick, Mikhail Abramov
To Toronto: Mikael Granlund
BLH’s Thoughts: I would do this if I was Toronto. Granlund is an upgrade on Engvall for sure but it’s also a good deal for the Preds because it helps them $$$-wise and the Swede is a very solid third line NHL forward. Abramov will join the organization next season after he’s done ripping up the QMJHL and who knows what the 2nd round pick could turn into…
To Pittsburgh: Erik Haula and Yegor Afanseyev
To Nashville: 2022 1st round pick and Juuso Riikola
BLH’s Thoughts: I feel like this is a bit too rich for Pittsburgh. Haula and Afanseyev aren’t going to move the needle for the Pens THAT much. I get that they’re not happy with the bottom-six there, so why if the Ducks would take that first rounder, Marcus Pettersson, and another asset for Ryan Getzlaf?
To New York: Kyle Palmieri
To New Jersey: 2021 2nd round pick and Otto Koivula
BLH’s Thoughts: Not enough. Not even close. I like the 2nd rounder in this year’s draft but the player, I do not like. Koivula is producing in the AHL, which is fine, he should be as a 22yr old prospect, but I’d prefer an Oliver Wahlstrom or Kiefer Bellows. Even if it meant not getting that draft pick or a lesser pick.
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